First birthday shirt: Burda 9505

Monday 8 April 2013
I can scarcely believe it myself, but Toby turned one last week.  He celebrated by taking his first steps which he soon followed up with some speed walking and I can't help but bust out an old cliché - where has my little baby gone?!

I've decided to start a birthday tradition for Toby and make him a shirt each birthday, much like I make a new dress for Anna each birthday.  If there's one thing I've learnt so far as a mother of two is that you need to be as equal as possible, mainly to stop the whinging and complaining! So here is Toby's first birthday shirt, worn with a pair of hand me down jeans I had previously made for Anna:


I used Burda 9505, which the lovely Steph in New Zealand posted to me last August - thanks again Steph it certainly came in handy.  I would like to say that I whipped this out in a few hours, because it's only a little bitty shirt but it took me the best part of Saturday to cut it out and sew.  I'll never again complain about children's clothes costing nearly as much as adult clothes, sure there's less fabric but it takes just as long to sew and maybe even longer given how fiddly it can get on a small scale.

This shirt is a replica of an adult shirt, complete with sleeve placket and cuffs, collar stand and yoke  but it was worth it because it's just so stinkin' cute as a miniature business shirt.

From the stash I found a rather bright red and white plaid cotton, which had been in there a long time but is just right for a little boy.  I managed to match the plaid at the front and side seams, but I cut the yoke and patch pocket on the bias to avoid having to match those stripes up.


I haven't sewn a Burda envelope pattern for a long time, and I don't think I've sewn one of their kid's patterns but I have to say the sizing was spot on and the instructions weren't nearly as confusing as the magazine.  I suppose it's just a straightforward shirt so not even Burda couldn't complicate the instructions too much.  The only change I would make to the pattern is to make the cuff wider because it's a little tight around Toby's pudgy wrist and maybe shorten the placket as it seems to be open almost to his elbow.  Although that does help with folding the shirt sleeves up so that he can get down to work:






26 comments:

  1. That's adorable!
    Happy birthday Toby!

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  2. Love the ambidextrous pencil hold! Cute shirt for the birthday boy.

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  3. What a darling toddler. The shirt is amazing. I'm sure a full sized one would be easier to sew!

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  4. Well done Kristy
    You have done some fabulous sewing this past year :)
    I have started the tradition of sewing for my grandson in the US a shirt each birthday with cars and trucks as he still loves them at age 3.
    Boys are tricky so good on you for being fair !! To Toby and Anna
    Keep up the great work
    Wendy

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  5. What an adorable shirt for an adorable toddler. I love that is is just like men's shirt, only miniturized. So cute!

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  6. With that shirt and his obvious pencil skills I can see a business man in the making! In a few years (or 20 ;-) ) you might have to sew him 3-piece suits!

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  7. 1. Red, white and blue is kind of my favorite color combo ever.
    2. How much do I LOVE his RED hair??? A lot. That's how much.

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  8. The birthday shirt is a great idea! I love the picture of him drawing (but watch out for your walls now:)

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  9. Where is time going? I cannot believe he is already a year old. Happy Birthday Toby and love his shirt. He is just adorable!

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  10. Adorable! He does look so grown up. That shirt is just too cute on him, great job!

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  11. The shirt turned out great. I agree with you on kid's clothes. They can take a really long time to construct. Only the simplest of shapes can be whipped up quickly, but I'm never really interested in sewing those.

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  12. What a cutie! The shirt was in fact "made for him"... Can't believe how much he looks like Anna! And the red hair!!! What a sweetie.

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  13. Adorable shirt for an adorable child. Happy birthday to Toby

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  14. So cute! Baby and shirt :) Happy birthday Toby!

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  15. Oh Kristy, that's just too cute by far! A fabulous shirt and fabulous birthday boy :)

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  16. The shirt is adorable, but I gotta' tell you that the little boy is absolutely precious! What a hunk of love!

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  17. What a gorgeous little man and love the shirt!

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  18. The shirt looks great! I love boys in button up shirts. My 7yr old hates button up shirts. Thankfully, my 4yr old loves them, and would wear them every day if he had enough of them! :)
    Love your blog.

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  19. He is so adorable, and his b-shirt looks smashing on him! What a special tradition you're sharing with them...these memories will be precious to them when they grow up.

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  20. Such a cute, cute little boy! Lovely shirt and jeans!

    Joy

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  21. Gorgeous! I have a few Burda kids patterns to try; just the kick up the pants I needed! Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Adorable! All my patterns for the boys are Burda (envelope) or Kwik Sew. They are great patterns. My 4 year old just asked me why I don't buy his clothes like a normal mum!! He wanted cargo pants, skinny jeans and checked shirts. So I gave in and bought him stuff from Country Road to "supplement" his handmade wardrobe. I suppose it means more sewing time for myself...

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  23. Nawwww! That is the cutest! What a rad tiny person shirt and how exciting for first birthday celebrations!

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  24. Happy Birthday anniversary, Toby!

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  25. I have a little boy just a few weeks older than Toby, and I've been enjoying seeing someone sew for a boy! The last time I tried a dress shirt I realized the pattern was actually more of a modified girl's shirt in its fit; I was very disappointed with the product. This pattern gives me hope to try again!

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